Accumulating and distributing conveyor for food products

ABSTRACT

An accumulating and distributing mechanism is described for delivering stacks of sliced meat from a meat slicing machine to a packaging machine at a controlled rate irrespective of random fluctuations in the rate at which the stacks are furnished from the slicing machine. The mechanism includes a pair of conveyors which are coextensive with one another over a portion of their lengths and which mesh at a point of intersection for transference of the stacks from one to the other. A first one of the conveyors receives the stacks sequentially from the slicing machine and delivers the same to the second conveyor which, in turn, delivers such stacks to the packaging machine. A carriage establishes the intermeshing intersection of the two conveyors and is movable longitudinally along their coextensive lengths to longitudinally vary the position of such intersection. The carriage is moved under the control of a product detection system which senses gaps in produce flow along the first conveyor. When such a gap is sensed, the carriage moves the point of intersection in the direction of flow of the product to a location relative to the second conveyor so that the next stack which is transferred from the first conveyor to the second is placed thereon at the proper location. The speed of the first conveyor is substantially increased during such time to hasten the transfer of such next stack to the second coneyor. When the next stack is transferred, carriage movement is reversed and if continuous product flow is sustained the carriage continues to move in the reverse direction to a normal home position, and the speed of the first conveyor is restored to normal. In this manner gaps in the supply product flow along the first conveyor do not appear in the demand product flow along the second conveyor.

Cite States tet [191 Tohy [ Aug. 14, 1973 ACCUMULATKNG AND DIS BUTINCCONVEYOR FOR FOOD PRODUCTS Edward P. Toby, South San Francisco, Calif.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Toby Entrprises, South San Francisco, Calif.

221 Filed: Apr. 10, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 242,299

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-Harris Zimmerman [57]ABSTRACT An accumulating and distributing mechanism is described fordelivering stacks of sliced meat from a meat slicing machine to apackaging machine at a controlled rate irrespective of randomfluctuations in the rate at which the stacks are furnished from theslicing machine. The mechanism includes a pair of conveyors which arecoextensive with one another over a portion of their lengths and whichmesh at a point of intersection for transference of the stacks from oneto the other. A first one of the conveyors receives the stackssequentially from the slicing machine and delivers the same to thesecond conveyor which, in turn, delivers such stacks to the packagingmachine. A carriage establishes the intermeshing intersection of the twoconveyors and is movable longitudinally along their coextensive lengthsto longitudinally varythe position of such intersection. The carriage ismoved under the control of a product detection system which senses gapsin produce flow along the first conveyor. When such a gap is sensed, thecarriage moves the point of intersection in the direction of flow of theproduct to a location relative to the second conveyor so that the nextstack which is transferred from the first conveyor to the second isplaced thereon at the proper location. The speed of the first conveyoris substantially increased during such time to hasten the transfer ofsuch next stack to the second coneyor. When the next stack istransferred, carriage movement is reversed and if continuous productflow is sustained the carriage continues to move in the reversedirection to a normal home position, and the speed of the first conveyoris restored to normal. In this manner gaps in the supply product flowalong the first conveyor do not appear in the demand product flow alongthe second conveyor.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet l HwE Patented Aug. 14, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug, 14, 1973 '7Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG..?

Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,751,873

'7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 5 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,751,873

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I I I 1/ FlG 10 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet6 ACCUMUILATING AND DISTRIBUTING CONVEYOR FOR FOOD PRODUCTS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to mechanism fordelivering objects from an object supplying mechanism to an objectdemanding mechanism at a controlled rate irrespective of randomfluctuations in the rate at which the objects are provided by the objectsupplying mechanism and irrespective of limited speed variation in theobject demanding mechanism.

It is common in the processing field for a product or object beingprocessed to be sequentially processed by two different mechanisms. Forexample, in the processing of meat for the production of packaged meatslices, a meat slicing machine may first produce stacks of meat sliceswhich are delivered to a packaging machine for packaging. For efficientoperation, the output or supply of sliced meat from the slicing machinemust be matched with the speed of the packaging machine. However, theoutput from the slicing machine is apt to fluctuate with the result thatthe packaging machinery is supplied either too fast or too slow. Thefluctuations in the supply of sliced meat from the slicing machine mayoccur, for example, by virtue of the slicing machinery being equippedwith automatic weighing devices designed to reject off-weight stackssuch that somewhat random gaps in product flow, both in frequency andduration, result. Similarly, when the slicer is reloaded with unslicedmeat, short gaps in product flow occur while the new loaf moves iritoslicing position.

Heretofore, the usual practice to compensate for mismatching of supplyand demand has involved a human operator who manually transfers stacksof meat from the slicer to the packaging machine. Such operator pilesstacks in excess of the demand of the packaging machine to one side anddraws from this pile when supply lags. Attempts to solve the problem bylinking the speed of one machine to that of the other have not provedpractical because of the elaborate and costly mechanical or electricallinkage necessary to accomplish the matching. Previous attempts todevelop an automatic accumulator-distributor arrangement for thispurpose have also proven unsuccessful, primarily because they haveentailed the use of a mechanical gate or the like to meter flow ofproduct resting on a continuously moving conveyor. This has resulted inrelative motion between the product and conveyor which,

while being tolerable in the accumulation and distribution of rigidobjects such as tin cans, boxes or the like; is undesirable where a foodproduct, such as sliced meat, is involved because of its soft, fragilenature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an accumulating anddistributing mechanism for delivering objects from an object supplyingmechanism to an object demanding mechanism at a controlled rateirrespective of random fluctuations in the rate at which the objects aresupplied by the object supplying mechanism, and irrespective of limitedspeed changes in the object demanding mechanism. More particularly, theinvention relates to such an accumulating and distrbuting mechanismwhich is particularly useful in providing a controlled rate of flowbetween two processing mechanisms when the objects being processed areof a fragile nature, such as thin slices of meat. In its basic aspects,the invention includes a pair of intersecting conveyors for sequentiallytransporting the objects between the supplying mechanism and thedemanding mechanism. A first one of the conveyors receives the objectsfrom the suppling mechanism and transfer them to the second one of theconveyors at the point at which the conveyors intersect. The secondconveyor then delivers the objects to the object demanding mechanism.

Means are provided for detecting a gap or break in the desired productflow on the first conveyor which would normally result in an undesiredfluctuation in the rate at which the products are delivered to thedemanding mechanism. As a particularly salient feature of the invention,it further includes means responsive to the detection of such a gap orbreak by moving the point at which the conveyors intersect in thedirection of flow of such objects to a new location at which the nextobject transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor willbe positioned on such second conveyor at a spacing thereonrepresentative of the desired rate of product flow. The fluctuation inproduct flow which is thus sensed on the first conveyor is correctedupon the product being transferred to the second conveyor so that thedesired controlled product flow is maintained at the input of the objectdemanding mechanism. After the fluctuation is corrected in this manner,the point of intersection of the two conveyors is returned to itsoriginal location.

It will be seen from the above that the desired controlled rate ofdelivery of the objects to the object demanding mechanism is achievedwithout the use of elaborate speed matching and control linkage of onesort or another. Moreover, because the product is de livered from onemoving conveyor to another at their point of intersection, the use ofmechanical gates and the like which may injure a product by reason ofbunching together of product, or relative motion between the gates andconveyor, is avoided.

The invention includes other features and advantages which will bedescribed or will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment.

THE DRAWINGS With reference to the accompanying seven sheets ofdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in schematic, of a preferredembodiment of an accumulating and distributing mechanism of the presentinvention situated between meat slicing amd packaging means, partiallyshown;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the showing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a plane indicated by line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken from adirection indicated by line 4& of FIG. 2, and illustrating the drivesystem for the accumulating and distributing mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged andfragmentary side elevational view taken from adirection indicated by line 5-5 of FIG. 2, illustrating further detailsof the drive system;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken from a plane indicated byline 6-6 of FIG. d;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken in a direction indicated byline 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a plane indicated by line88 of FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the distributor carriage of thepreferred embodiment of the mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on a planeindicated by line 99 of FIG. 1, particularly illustrating the drivesystem for the distributor carriage;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged and partial sectional view taken on a planeindicated by line 10l0 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary and enlarged end view, taken in the directionof the plane indicated by line 1111 of FIG. 1, of a stack droppingdevice employed intermediate the conveyor arrangement and the packagingmachine;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of the dropping devicetaken from a plane indicated by line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary end view of the dropping devicetaken from a plane indicated by line 1313 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged and broken away plan view of the stack droppingdevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, an accumulating anddistributing mechanism 11, in accordance with the present invention, isdepicted as a conveyor link for conveying stacks 12 of sliced meatdelivered from a meat slicing machine 13 to a packaging machine 14adapted to package the individual sliced meat stacks in packaging film,or the like.

The distributing mechanism 11 serves, in a manner subsequentlydescribed, to match the supply of sliced meat stacks 12 to the demand ofthe packaging machine irrespective of random fluctuations in the supplyarising, for example, from inexact matching of the operating speeds ofthe two machines, lapses in supply when the slicing machine is reloadedwith unsliced meat and the new loaf moves into slicing position, and thelike. More particularly, it is to be noted that, as illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2, the stacks 12 are spaced apart substantially an equal distancein their conveyance from the slicing machine 13 to a stack droppingdevice 16. This condition is representative of an unbroken flow orunifrom speed at which the stacks are delivered, by the slicing machine.

The stack dropping device 16 sequentially drops the unbroken flow ofregularly spaced stacks into regularly spaced packaging pockets of acontinuous packaging machine infeed conveyor translated by rollers 17 ofthe packaging machine. In other words, the supply of stacks matches thedemand represented by the respective pockets of packaging film, andwhenever a pocket is in position to receive a stack, a stack isavailable for dropping into the pocket. However, one or more stacks inthe normally regularly spaced series thereof delivered from the slicingmachine are frequently missing such that a gap exists in the flow orsupply of stacks, i.e., two successive stacks may be relatively widelyspaced apart compared to the relatively close spacing between the stackswhen supply matches demand. As a result, there would normally be one ormore pockets of the continuously moving packaging film successivelypositioned to receive stacks when no stacks were available for dropping.These pockets would thus be normally unfilled and packaging film wouldbe wasted. Such situation does not exist, however, with the inventiveconveyor arrangement 11, inasmuch as regularly spaced stacks aredelivered from the output end thereof to the packaging machine 14, eventhough irregular gaps exist between the stacks at the input end suppliedfrom the slicing machine 13.

Considering now the accmulating and distributing mechanism 11 of thepresent invention in more detail as to its structure and operation, samewill be seen to include a pair of interrneshing conveyors l8 and 19carried upon a horizontal structural frame 21 preferably defined by apair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending angle iron siderails 22 interconnected by a plurality of cross members 23 (see FIG. 3),which frame is supported by a pair of longitudinally spaced stands 24.

As is illustrated, the conveyors 18 and 19 are coextensive over agreater portion of their lengths with their upper flights or reachesintersecting at a point or line of intersection referred to by thereference numeral 20. The stacks of sliced meat 12 are depositioned onthe conveyor 18, the distributor conveyor, and travel on the upperflight thereof to the point 20 at which the conveyors intersect, whereatthey are transferred because of such intersection to the upper flight ofconveyor 19.

The distributor conveyor 18 includes a plurality of transversely spacedguide sprockets 26 joumalled for rotation about a transverse shaftmounted at one end of the frame 21, a corresponding plurality oftransversely spaced guide sprockets 27 joumalled for rotation about atransverse shaft mounted adjacent the opposite end of the frame, and acorresponding plurality of continuous link chains 28, each of which passaround and engage an associated pair of sprockets 26 and 27. The chains28 are thus transversely spacedapart, and the upper and lower flights orreaches thereof are horizontally disposed and longitudinally extending.

The accumulator conveyor 19 similarly comprises a plurality oftransversely spaced guide sprockets 29 joumalled for rotation about atransverse shaft mounted adjacent the end of frame 21 near the slidingmachine 13, which sprockets are in inwardly longitudinally spacedrelation to sprockets 26. A corresponding plurality of transverslyspaced guide sprockets 31 are joumalled for rotation about a transverseshaft mounted adjacent the other end of the frame in outwardlylongitudinally spaced relation to sprockets 27, and a correspondingplurality of continuous link chains 32 pass around and engage associatedpairs of the sprockets 29 and 31. The result is that the accumulatorconveyor chains 32 are transversely spaced-apart like the chains 28 ofthe distributor conveyor, and the upper and lower flights thereof arehorizontally disposed and longitudinally extending.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the accumulator conveyor sprockets 29 and 31are transversely offset from the distributor conveyor sprockets 26 and27 so as to dispose the distributor conveyor chains 28 between adjacentones of the accumulator conveyor chains 32 as viewed in plan. In thisregard, there may be, for example, five of the chains 32 with four ofthe chains 28 transversely interposed therebetween. The lower flight orreach of accumulator conveyor 19 is upwardly disposed from the lowerflight of distributor conveyor 18,

while the upper flight of the distributor conveyor is upwardly displacedfrom the upper flight of the accumulator conveyor on the input side ofthe intermeshing intersection of the two conveyors and downwardlydisplaced from the upper flight of the accumulator con veyor on theoutput side of intersection 20. In other words, the distributor conveyoreffectively terminates in the accumulator conveyor at the intermeshingintersection, and the stacks 12 are thereat delivered from the former tothe latter.

As a particularly salient aspect of the present invention, means areprovided to displace or more the intermeshing intersection 20 betweenthe distributor and accumulator conveyors l8 and 19 longitudinallythereof. Thus, the point at which product is transferred from thedistributor conveyor to the storage conveyor is controllable. As will bemore fully understood hereinafter, upon a gap in the product flow beingdetected on the distributor conveyor, the point of intersection of thetwo conveyors can be moved in the direction of flow of the product sothat when the meat stack following the gap is transferred to the storageconveyor, it is transferred thereto at a desired spacing from theprevious stack, i.e., the gap is eliminated when the product istransferred to the storage conveyor. The intersection is displaceablebetween a normal home position 34 adjacent the input end of the conveyorarrangement and a fully actuated position 36 adjacent the output endthereof, the intersection being depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 at a positionintermediate positions 34 and 36.

Considering now the intermeshing intersection displacing means in moredetail, it is to be noted that such means preferably comprise adistributor carriage 37 which establishes the intermeshing intersection20 between the conveyors 18 and 19 and is mounted for translationlongitudinally of the support frame 21 be-' tween the positions 34 and36. More particularly, the carriage 37 preferrably includes a pair oftransversely spaced side plates 38 interconnected by means of verticallyspaced transverse cross members 39 and 41, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and8. A pair of longitudinally extending guide bushings 42 secured to theouter sides of plates 38 are slidable along a pair of longitudinal rails43 mounted adjacent the opposite sides of the support frame 211. In thismanner, the carriage is rendered translatable longitudinally of theframe.

A plurality of transversely spaced sprockets 44 are joumalled forrotation about a shaft 46 mounted transversely between a pair of supportmembers 47 projecting upwardly from cross member 39. These sprocketsupwardly engage the distributor conveyor chains 28 in their flightbetween the end guide sprockets 26 and 27. In addition, a plurality offingers 48 project longitudinally forward and downard from the crossmember 39 in the direction of the output end of the conveyor arrangement11, and these fingers are in longitudinal alignment with the sprockets44. The projecting end of each finger is formed with a clevis 49, or thelike, between the sides of which a pair of longitudinally spacedsprockets 51 and 52 are joumalled for rotation about a pair oftransversely mounted pins 53 and 54. In this manner, the pairs ofsprockets 51 and 52 are longitudinally aligned with the sprockets 44.

The fingers 48 project downwardly between adjacent ones of a pluralityof transversely spaced longitudinally extending support rails 56 whichproject upwardly from the base 23. The rails are of low frictionmaterial, such as Teflon, and along their upper edges support the upperreaches of the accumulator conveyor chains 32. The sets of sprockets 51and 52 as joumalled at the tips of the fingers are transversely offsetfrom the chains supported upon the rails 56 and disposed subjacent same.Each distributor conveyor chain 28, after passing over its sprocket 44,passes over sprocket 51 and then under sprocket 52 in its flight tosprocket 27 at the output end of the conveyor arrangement. Consequently,the distributor conveyor chains 28 are caused to cross under theaccumulator chains 32 at the carriage 37 to establish the intermeshingintersection 20 whereat the upper flight of the distributor conveyorpasses from an elevation above the upper flight of the accumulatorconveyor to an elevation below same in the direction of conveyor travel.0f course as the carriage is translated longitudinally along the rails43, the intersection 20 or cross-under point established by thearrangement of carriage sprockets 44, 51 and 52 is correspondingly movedin the longitudinal direction.

Referring now again to FIG. 1, the distributor and accumulator conveyorarrangement 11 will be seen to also include a power drive system 57which is coupled to the distributor and accumulator conveyors 18 and 19to effect translation thereof in a direction from their input to outputends, and coupled to the distributor carriage 37 to effect longitudinaltranslation thereof in either direction. More particularly, the drivesystem includes a plurality of distributor conveyor drive sprockets 58(see FIGS. 6 and 7) fixedly secured in coaxially spaced relation to atransverse shaft 59 joumalled for rotation between a pair of parallelspaced side members 611 depending from the opposite sides of supportframe 21, as best show in FIGS. 4 6. A second shaft 62 is joumalled forrotation transversely between side members 61 subjacent shaft 59, and aplurality of coaxially spaced accumulator conveyor drive sprockets 63are fixedly secured to shaft 62 in transversely offset relation tosprockets 58. In addition, a bank of individually rotatable transverselyspaced entry guide sprockets 64 are joumalled between the side membersat a location upwardly and longitudinally spaced from the sprockets 58in the direction of the output end of the conveyor arrangement. Entrysprockets 64 correspond in number and transverse position to both thedistributor and accumulator conveyor drive sprockets 58 and 63.

A plurality of individually rotatable transversely spaced exit guidesprockets 66 are joumalled between side members 61, which sprocketscorrespond in number and transverse position to distributor conveyordrive sprockets 58. Similarly, a plurality of individually rotatabletransversely spaced exit guide sprockets 67, corresponding in number andtransverse position to accumulator conveyor drive sprockets 63 arejoumalled between the side members. Both sets of exit guide sprockets66adn 67 are upwardly spaced from sprockets 58 and longitudinally spacedtherefrom towards the input end of the conveyor arrangement. Exitsprockets 67 are downwardly and longitudinally spaced in the directionof the input end of the conveyor arrangement from exit sprockets 66.

The lower reaches of the distributor conveyor chains 28 engaginglyextend over the entry sprockets 64, under the drive sprockets 58, andover the exit sprockets 66 in their flights from the output sprockets 27to input sprockets 26. In a similar manner, the lower reaches of theaccumulator conveyor chains 32 in their flight from output sprockets 31to input sprockets 29 engagingly extend over entry sprockets 64, underdrive sprockets 63, and over exit sprockets 67. It will be thusappreciated that driver rotation of the shafts 59 and 62 respectivelycarrying drive sprockets 58 and 63 effect longitudinal movement of thedistributor and accumulator conveyors 18 and 19 at rates determined bythe rotational speeds of the respective shafts.

In order to impart driven rotation to the distributor and accumulatorconveyor drive shafts 59 and 62, the power drive system 57 includes amotor 68 carried by a support structure 69 mounted subjacent the siderails 22 of the frame 21. The motor has a rotary output shaft 71disposed transversely of the frame 21, having a plurality oftransversely spaced sprockets 72, 73 and 74 fixedly secured thereto, asbest shown by FIG. 6. Sprockets 72 and 73 are of the same diameter whilesprocket 74 is of twice such diameter. Sprocket 73 is coupled by meansof a drive chain 76 to a sprocket 77 of the same diameter carried upon apower take-off shaft 78 journalled for rotation transversely of supportstructure 69. An electric clutch 79 is provided to couple the sprocket77 to shaft 78 which is also fitted with an electric brake 81 (see FIG.7). The clutch may, for example, be normally engaged to lock thesprocket 77 to shaft 78, and be disengaged responsive to an electricalsignal to decouple the sprocket from the shaft. The brake may benormally disengaged to permit rotation of the shaft, but engaged inresponse to an electrical signal to prevent shaft rotation.

Sprockets 82 and 83 of equal diameters are respectively fixedly securedto take-off shaft 78 and accumulator conveyor drive shaft 62 and engagedby a chain 84 (see FIG. Thus, when the clutch 79 is engaged and brake 81is disengaged, the motor output shaft 71 drives take-off shaft 78 in a1:1 ratio which in turn drives drive shaft 62 in a 1:1 ratio to therebyimpart longitudinal movement to accumulator conveyor 19. Conversely,when the clutch is disengaged and the brake engaged, the motor outputshaft is decoupled from the take-off shaft and rotation thereof isprevented to thus terminate movement of the accumulator conveyor.

The motor output sprockets 72 and 74 are coupled by means of drivechains 86 and 87 to sprockets 88 and 89, having the same diameter assprocket 72, which are carried upon a power takeoff shaft 91 journalledfor rotation transversely of support structure 69, as best shown in FIG.4 and 7. Electric clutches 92 and 93 serve to couple sprockets 88 and 89to shaft 91 which is fitted with an electric brake 94. Equal diametersprockets 96 and 97 are respectively fixedly secured to take-off shaft91 and distributor conveyor drive shaft 59, and are engaged by a chain98.

The clutches 92 and 93 and brake 94 are similar to clutch 79 and brake81. However, clutch 92 is preferably normally engaged while clutch 93 isdisengaged such that sprocket 88 is normally locked to shaft 91 andsprocket 89 is decoupled therefrom. The motor output shaft 71 thendrives take-off shaft 91 in a 1:1 ratio which in turn drives drive shaftin a 1:1 ratio to impart longitudinal movement to the distributorconveyor 18 with an overall 1:1 ratio relative to the motor shaft. As aresult the distributor conveyor is driven at the same speed of travel asthe accumulator conveyor. However, responsive to an electrical signalapplied to clutches 92 and 93, clutch2 is disengaged and clutch 93 isengaged to decouple sprocket 88 from the takeoff shaft and lock sprocket89 thereto. Thus, the motor output shaft 71 now drives shaft 91 viachain 87 in a 1:2 ratio, an shaft 91 drives the distributor conveyordrive shaft 59 in a 1:1 ratio such that the overall ratio between themotor output shaft and conveyor drive shaft is 1:2. Hence, thedistributor conveyor longitudinal speed of travel is made to be twicethat of the accumulator conveyor. This arrangement therefore, acts asmeans for increasing the speed of the distributor conveyor when, forexample, the point of intersection of the two conveyors is moved in thedirection of flow of the product.

If an electrical signal is not applied to clutch 92 and clutch 93, butan electrical signal is applied to brake 94, the sprockets 88 and 89 areboth decoupled from the take-off shaft 91 and the brake 94 is applied.Rotation of the take-off shaft is prevented and movement of thedistributor conveyor is thus prevented.

Considering now the manner in which the power drive system 57 iseffective to translate distributor carriage 37 in opposite longitudinaldirections, there is provided traction chain 99 mounted on frame 21having opposite ends secured to the opposite ends of the carraige so asto define a continuous chain loop (See FIG. 2). The chain extends aboutand is engaged with a pair of guide sprockets 101 and 102 journalled forrotation about transverse axes adjacent the opposite ends of frame 21.In this regard, sprocket 101 is preferably freely rotatable about theshaft carrying accumulator conveyor sprockets 29 while sprockets 102 arefreely rotatable about the shaft carrying distributor conveyor sprocket27. The lower reach of one of the traction chains 99 is guided aroundthe lower periphery of a carriage drive sprocket 103 fixedly secured toa transverse drive shaft 104 journalled for rotation between a pair ofside plates 106 depending from the opposite sides of the frame 21, asbest shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. It will be thus appreciated that as viewedin the Figures, clockwise rotation of the carriage drive shaft 104effects longitudinal translation of carriage 37 towards the left, orinput end of the conveyor arrangement.

The power drive system 57 includes means for selectively rotating driveshaft 104 in the opposite direction, and in this regard such meanspreferably include a pair of power take-off shafts 107 and 108 which arerotatable in mutually opposite directions and selectively coupled toshaft 104 to in turn rotate same in one direction or the other dependingupon which take-off shaft is coupled thereto. More particularly, shafts107 and 108 are journalled for rotation transversely between side plates106 with shaft 107 being subjacent shaft 104 and shaft 108 subjacentshaft 107. An input sprocket 109 fixedly secured to shaft 107 is coupledby means of an endless drive chain 111 to a sprocket 112 freelyrotatable on distributor conveyor take-off shaft 91 and fixedly securedto sprocket 88 which is rigidly coupled to shaft 91 or decoupledtherefrom by means of clutch 92. The sprockets 109 and 112 are of thesame diameter as sprocket 88 such that a 1:1 ratio exists between themotor output shaft 71 and shaft 107 and both shafts always turn at thesame speed. Shaft 107 is coupled to shaft 108 in a 1:1 ratio by means ofinterrneshed identical gears 113 and 114 fixedly secured to therespective shafts. Hence both shafts rotate at motor speed, but inmutually opposite directions.

A pair of sprockets 116 and 117 are carried upon carriage drive shaft104 and selectively coupled thereto by means of electric clutches 118and 119. Such clutches may, for example, nonnally decouple the sprockets116 and 117 from the shaft, but lock the sprockets thereto in responseto an applied electrical signal. Sprocket 116 is coupled in a 1:1 ratioby means of a drive chain 121 to a sprocket 122 fixedly secured to shaft108. Thus, if clutch 118 is selectively engaged responsive to theapplication of an electrical signal, sprocket 116 is locked to driveshaft 104 to thereby couple shaft 107 thereto. Drive shaft 104 is thusrotated in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10, at the speedof motor output shaft 71 to translate carriage 37 towards the output endof the conveyor arrangement 11 with the same speed of travel asaccumulator conveyor 19. Conversely, if clutch 119 is engaged responsiveto an electrical signal, sprocket 117 is locked to drive shaft 104 andshaft 108 is hence coupled thereto. Consequently, shaft 104 is rotatedcounterclockwise at the speed of motor output shaft 71 to translatecarriage 37 towards the input end of the conveyor arrangement with thesame speed of travel as accumulator conveyor 19.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the distributor and accumulator conveyorarrangement 11 will be seen to further include a product detectionsystem which senses the presence or absence of the stacked meat slices12, or other conveyed product, at various points along the conveyorarrangement and responsively controls the power drive system 57 andother components in an appropriate manner to accomplish the ends of thepresent invention. The product detection system includes a plurality ofphotoelectic detection stations 126, 127, 128 and 129 or equivalentmeans capable of generating electric signals when the product is at thestation or absent therefrom.

Briefly, station 126 is located adjacent the stack dropping device 16 tocontrol its operation as well as correlative actuation of accumulatorconveyor 19. The stack dropping device acts as means for deliveringproduct from the accumulator conveyor-to the packaging machine 14 onlywhen the packaging machine is ready to receive another product, i.e.,when an empty packaging pocket is properly positioned below the stackdropping device to receive a stack of sliced meat.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 14, the stack dropping device includespluralities of longitudinally spaced feed rollers 131 and 132 oppositetransversely projecting inward from a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinal tubular shafts 133 and 134 which are rotatable about theiraxes. A feed motor 136 is coupled to the rollers 131 and 132 by means ofan appropriate drive mechanism, portions of which are contained withinthe tubular shafts 133 and 134, to impart feed rotation thereto. Therollers are coextensive with accumulator conveyor 19 at its output endsuch that a stack 12 delivered to the end of the conveyor is supportedon the rollers and fed forwardly to the detection station 126 by rollerrotation. A product dropping drive motor 137 is coupled to the shafts133 and 134 to rotate same through one quarter revolution and returnwhen a stack is positioned at the detection station to thereby drop thestack upon the underlying packaging machine infeed conveyor translatedby means of the rollers 17. The detection station 126 functions to stoprotation of feed rollers 131 and 132 in response to a stack beingpositioned at the detection station. An infeed conveyor microswitch, orthe like, associated with the underlying packaging machine feed rollers17 serves to signal the stack dropping device 16 that a packet of filmor other receiving station is underneath the rollers 131 and 132 readyto receive a stack, whereupon the shafts 133 and 134 are responsivelyrotated to thereby drop .the stack. When the rollers 131 and 132 havecompleted their rotation and are again in horizontal position, and thedetection station 126 detects the absence of a stack thereat, therollers 131 and 132 are responsively rotated and the accumulatorconveyor 19 is signalled to advance and thereby deliver another stack tothe rollers. In this regard, the absence signal is also employed todeenergize clutch 79 and brake 81, thereby engaging the clutch anddisengaging the brake to initiate rotation of take-off shaft 78 and thusaccumulator conveyor drive shaft 62.

The detection station 127 is located at the output end of accumulatorconveyor 19 and serves to detect the presence or absence of a stack 12thereat. When a stack is positioned at this detection station, theaccumulator conveyor is signalled to stop. To this end, a presence"signal generated from detection station 127 may be employed to energizeclutch 79 for disengagement and energize brake 81 for engagement.Driving of accumulator conveyor drive shaft 62 is consequentlyterminated such that conveyor travel is stopped until detection station126 generates an absence signal to restore conveyor travel and rotationof feed rollers 131 and 132 in the manner hereinbefore described.

Detecton station 128 is located at the input end of distributor conveyor18 adjacent slicing machine 13. This detection station functions tosignal the slicer to deliver a stack 12 to the distributor conveyor whena vacant space exists at its input end, and to not deliver a stack whenthe space is occupied by a previously delivered stack. In thisconnection, the slicer is desirably of the demand type, such as isdescribed and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,587,688.

Detection station 129 is carried upon the distributor carriage 37 andmonitors a point on distributor con veyor 18 slightly to the input sideof the intersection 20 between the distributor and accumulatorconveyors. When accumulator conveyor 19 advances toward the output endof conveyor 11, distributor carriage 37 will move with it unless a stackis detected by detector. station 129, in which case the distributorcarriage will either remain at the home position, or if displaced fromthe home position, move a predetermined distance towards it. If thedistributor carriage is away from the home position, the speed of travelof the distributor conveyor 18 will be doubled. It should be noted thatthe extremes of carriage movement defined by home position 34 and fullyactuated position 36 are determined by limit switches (not shown) whichare located thereat for engagement by the carriage. When either switchis engaged, movement of the carriage is responsively terminated. In thisregard, switch engagement effects the disengagement of clutches 118 and119 to thereby decouple power from carriage drive shaft 114. It isparticularly important to note that engagement of the home limit switchis also effective to cause the distributor conveyor 18 to travel atnormal speed, i.e., the speed of accumulator conveyor 19.

Briefly, in operation, the speed in which the slicer produces stacks ofsliced meat, and the speed with which the packaging machine is capableof receiving such stacks, are chosen to be generally the same. However,in view of the invention, no interlocking arrangement is needed toexactly match such speeds.

Sliced stacks of meat are dropped from the slicer 13 onto thedistributor conveyor 18 under the control of detection station 128. Thatis, whenever the detection station 128 indicates the absence of a stackat the input end of the conveyor, it signals the slicer to drop a newstack. Because stacks are being removed from the distributor conveyor atgenerally the same rate as they are being added thereto, this results inmore or less continuous movement of such distributor conveyor.

The stacks of meat are transported by the distributor conveyor to theintersection 20 thereof with the accumulator conveyor, whereat they aretransferred to the latter. Movement of the accumulator conveyor iscontrolled by detection station 127 which assures that a stack of meatis at the output end of such accumulator for transfer to the stackdropping device whenever such is required. Again, because the speeds ofthe slicer and the packaging machine are generally the same, the resultis that the accumulator conveyor is more or less continuously in motion.

If there is a gap in product flow, i.e., the slicer does not deliver astack to the distributor conveyor at a proper time when it is instructedto do so by the detection station 128, the detection station 129 sensesthe absence of a stack during a movement of the accumulator conveyor 19.This causes the distributor carriage to move away from home position 34and follow the last stack on the accumulator conveyor. When the stackfollowing the gap is transferred between the conveyors, it will betransferred to the accumulator conveyor at a location immediatelyfollowing the last stack prior to the gap. In view of the drive ratiosand sprocket sizes discussed above, the speed of movement of thecarriage 37 will be equal to the speed of movement of the accumulatorconveyor.

The detection system 129 signals not only movement of carriage 37 uponsensing a gap, but also signals the drive system to double the speed ofdistributor conveyor 18. The result is that the speed of movement of theintersection in a direction toward home position 34 is compensated forby a corresponding increase in the speed of the distributor conveyor.

Upon the transfer of a stack from the distributor conveyor to a point onthe accumulator conveyor correcting for the gap, the detection station129 commands the drive system to reverse the direction of motion of thecarriage 37 and cause it to move toward position 34 a distancesufficient to place it immediately behind the last stack transferred. Itwill thus be positioned to correct for the next gap in product flow.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that various changes andmodifications can be made without departing from its spirit. It istherefore intended that the protection on the invention be limited onlyby the claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. An accumulating and distributing mechanism for correcting for randomfluctuations in the delivery of objects by an object, supplyingmechanism to an object demanding mechanism, comprising a pair ofintersecting conveyors for transporting a plurality of said objectssuccessively between said supplying mechanism and said demandingmechanism with a first one of said conveyors positioned to receive saidobjects from said supplying mechanism and deliver them to the second oneof said conveyors at the point of intersection of said conveyors, meansfor detecting a spacing between successive ones of said objects on saidfirst conveyor which is greater than a predetermined desired spacingtherebetween, and means responsive to the detection of said greaterspacing by moving said point at which said first and second conveyorsintersect in the direction of flow of said objects to a new locationrelative to said second conveyor at which the next object transferredfrom said first conveyor to said second conveyor is positioned on saidsecond conveyor at a desired spacing from the preceding object thereon,irrespective of said greater spacing on said first conveyor.

2. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 1 furtherincluding means for detecting when said object demanding mechanism isready to have one of said objects delivered thereto, and meansintermediate said second conveyor and said object demanding mechanismresponsive to said second detection means by delivering an object fromsaid second conveyor to said demanding mechanism only when said objectdemanding mechanism is ready to receive an object.

3. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 2 wherein meansare provided at the input end of said first conveyor for indicating whensaid first conveyor is positioned to receive objects from said objectsupplying mechanism and for signaling said object supplying mechanism ofthis fact.

4. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 1 wherein meansare provided responsive to the transference of said next object to saidsecond conveyor at said new location by returning said point ofintersection to a position immediately following the object transferred.

5. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 4 wherein meansare also provided responsive to said detection of said greater spacingby increasing the speed of said first conveyor relative to the speed ofsaid second conveyor to hasten the transportation of said next object tosaid point of intersection for transference to said second conveyor.

6. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 5 wherein saidfirst and second conveyors are coextensive with one another over aselected portion of their lengths with the upper, object carrying flightof one positioned above the upper flight of the other for a selecteddistance and then passes through said upper flight of the other toprovide said point of intersection of said two conveyors and acontinuous flow path for said objects from one of said conveyors to theother, wherein said means for moving said point of intersection does soby moving the location at which the upper flight of said one conveyorpasses through the upper flight of the other along said coextensiveportion of their lengths, and wherein said means for increasing thespeed of said first conveyor relative to the second conveyor does so byan amount at least compensating for the speed of movement of said pointof intersection along said second conveyor.

7. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 6 wherein saidmeans for moving said point of intersection is a carriage mounted formovement along said coextensive lengths of said conveyors, saidcarria'ge having conveyor guides moveable therewith defining the path ofthe upper flight of said one conveyor through the upper flight of theother.

8. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 7 furtherincluding means for detecting when said object demanding mechanism isready to have one of said objects delivered thereto, and meansintermediate said second conveyor and said object demanding mechanismresponsive to said detection means by delivering an object from saidsecond conveyor to said demanding mechanism only when said objectdemanding mechanism is ready to receive an object.

9. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 7 wherein meansare provided at the input end of said first conveyor for indicating whensaid first conveyor is positioned to receive objects from said objectsupplying mechanism and for signalling said object suppling mechanism ofthis fact.

10. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 7 wherein saidobject supplying mechanism is a food slicer and said object demandingmechanism is a machine for packaging food slices, and wherein adetection station is situated at the input end of said first conveyorfor indicating when said first conveyor is ready to receive food slicesfrom said slicer and for signaling said slicer to deliver food slicesthereto, a detection station is included at the end of said secondconveyor for detecting when said packaging machine is ready to have foodslices delivered thereto for packaging, and a food stack dropping deviceis positioned intermediate said end of said conveyor and said packagingmachine for delivering sliced food from said second conveyor to saidpackaging machine only when said packaging machine is ready to receivesaid food slices.

1. An accumulating and distributing mechanism for correctinG for randomfluctuations in the delivery of objects by an object, supplyingmechanism to an object demanding mechanism, comprising a pair ofintersecting conveyors for transporting a plurality of said objectssuccessively between said supplying mechanism and said demandingmechanism with a first one of said conveyors positioned to receive saidobjects from said supplying mechanism and deliver them to the second oneof said conveyors at the point of intersection of said conveyors, meansfor detecting a spacing between successive ones of said objects on saidfirst conveyor which is greater than a predetermined desired spacingtherebetween, and means responsive to the detection of said greaterspacing by moving said point at which said first and second conveyorsintersect in the direction of flow of said objects to a new locationrelative to said second conveyor at which the next object transferredfrom said first conveyor to said second conveyor is positioned on saidsecond conveyor at a desired spacing from the preceding object thereon,irrespective of said greater spacing on said first conveyor.
 2. Theaccumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 1 further includingmeans for detecting when said object demanding mechanism is ready tohave one of said objects delivered thereto, and means intermediate saidsecond conveyor and said object demanding mechanism responsive to saidsecond detection means by delivering an object from said second conveyorto said demanding mechanism only when said object demanding mechanism isready to receive an object.
 3. The accumulating and distributingmechanism of claim 2 wherein means are provided at the input end of saidfirst conveyor for indicating when said first conveyor is positioned toreceive objects from said object supplying mechanism and for signalingsaid object supplying mechanism of this fact.
 4. The accumulating anddistributing mechanism of claim 1 wherein means are provided responsiveto the transference of said next object to said second conveyor at saidnew location by returning said point of intersection to a positionimmediately following the object transferred.
 5. The accumulating anddistributing mechanism of claim 4 wherein means are also providedresponsive to said detection of said greater spacing by increasing thespeed of said first conveyor relative to the speed of said secondconveyor to hasten the transportation of said next object to said pointof intersection for transference to said second conveyor.
 6. Theaccumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 5 wherein said firstand second conveyors are coextensive with one another over a selectedportion of their lengths with the upper, object carrying flight of onepositioned above the upper flight of the other for a selected distanceand then passes through said upper flight of the other to provide saidpoint of intersection of said two conveyors and a continuous flow pathfor said objects from one of said conveyors to the other, wherein saidmeans for moving said point of intersection does so by moving thelocation at which the upper flight of said one conveyor passes throughthe upper flight of the other along said coextensive portion of theirlengths, and wherein said means for increasing the speed of said firstconveyor relative to the second conveyor does so by an amount at leastcompensating for the speed of movement of said point of intersectionalong said second conveyor.
 7. The accumulating and distributingmechanism of claim 6 wherein said means for moving said point ofintersection is a carriage mounted for movement along said coextensivelengths of said conveyors, said carriage having conveyor guides moveabletherewith defining the path of the upper flight of said one conveyorthrough the upper flight of the other.
 8. The accumulating anddistributing mechanism of claim 7 further including means for detectingwhen said object demanding mechanism is ready to have one of saidobjects delivered thereto, and means intermediate sAid second conveyorand said object demanding mechanism responsive to said detection meansby delivering an object from said second conveyor to said demandingmechanism only when said object demanding mechanism is ready to receivean object.
 9. The accumulating and distributing mechanism of claim 7wherein means are provided at the input end of said first conveyor forindicating when said first conveyor is positioned to receive objectsfrom said object supplying mechanism and for signalling said objectsuppling mechanism of this fact.
 10. The accumulating and distributingmechanism of claim 7 wherein said object supplying mechanism is a foodslicer and said object demanding mechanism is a machine for packagingfood slices, and wherein a detection station is situated at the inputend of said first conveyor for indicating when said first conveyor isready to receive food slices from said slicer and for signaling saidslicer to deliver food slices thereto, a detection station is includedat the end of said second conveyor for detecting when said packagingmachine is ready to have food slices delivered thereto for packaging,and a food stack dropping device is positioned intermediate said end ofsaid conveyor and said packaging machine for delivering sliced food fromsaid second conveyor to said packaging machine only when said packagingmachine is ready to receive said food slices.